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Framing And Art Preservation Tips - "Out Gassing"
Kerry Daggett
"Out gassing" happens with wood pulp mats, wood frames and cardboard backing. The acid in the mat or cardboard is released along the cut edges. This acid is released in the form of a gas and it continually passes over the top of the work. In the case of a wood pulp mat, the bevel turns yellow and eventually brown. This telltale sign indicates out gassing and will eventually ruin your work of art by turning the paper yellowish-brown, and unfortunately this is irreversible. Cardboard backing will first start to turn the backside and edges of your work yellowish-brown before it turns everything tea stained brown. It's the same thing that would happen to a news paper, only in slow motion.

Today there is buffered, acid-free, conservation, an museum mat board to choose in order to prevent out gassing. Acid-free has a pH of 7 or higher. Buffered mat board has a calcium carbonate added to neutralize the "free acid". Conservation board is acid-free, with a colored surface paper mounted to it. Museum board is 100% cotton and has a more limited color range. Both museum and conservation qualify as archival and acid-free. Archival materials are those considered permanent and chemically stable.
   Question of the day, Where is the most destructive place to display a painting long term?
THE ANSWER IS... Over a fireplace. It has the greatest temperature change and the frame, painting and mats have to expand and contract quickly. The fireplace gives off pollutants. Add to that the airborne dust and pollutants and in the end it's not a pretty picture.